South Texas College brings the Rio Grande Valley its twelfth annual ceramics exhibition and conference, “Continued Connections. Variable Directions.” The exhibit will be on view from June 4 to August 8, 2018, at the college’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and June 4 to July 5 at the Art Building B Gallery. The galleries and ceramic studio are located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The event includes a full display of ceramic work by distinguished ceramicists Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw as well as ceramic work from 15 universities and community colleges across the U.S, including ceramic work by STC and UTRGV students.

The three-day South Texas Ceramic Showdown will begin with an opening reception on June 20 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and Art Building B Gallery from 6-8 p.m. The workshop will continue with ceramic demonstrations on June 21 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. and June 22 at 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramic Studio. A lecture by ceramic artists Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw will be held on Friday, June 22 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m., adjacent to their exhibition, in the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room. All activities are free and open to the public.

“For the 2018 South Texas Ceramic Showdown, we will have more collaborations expected than in the past with a few more top notch ceramic programs in the mix,” said Chris Leonard, Ceramic Showdown organizer and STC Ceramics Professor. “We are very happy to have Benjie Heu and Ron Fondaw in the mix as the established clay artists who share the geography of the ‘Show Me State.’ Benjie and Ron share a short but meaningful friendship, are well versed in the ceramic tradition, and have deep histories as productive and innovative artists and teachers. The collaboration that they are dreaming up should be very cool as South Texas heats up.”

Benjie Heu is a Professor of Ceramics at Southeast Missouri State University. He received his MFA in Ceramics at Ohio University and exhibits internationally. His work is deeply personal and a narrative of the journey of self-discovery. His work discusses his family, food, medicine, spirituality, and human nature.

Ron Fondaw is a ceramic artist whose current work investigates the relationship between the mind, body, and environment. Fondaw is known for his more than thirty site-specific installations in locations such as New York City, Denmark, and China. He received his MFA from the University of Illinois and is a Professor of Ceramics at Washington University in St. Louis.

Participating institutions in the collaborative ceramic constructions include: Arizona Western College, Baylor University, Clarion University, Edinboro University, Lawrence University, Mesa Community College, Montana State University, South Texas College, Southeast Missouri State University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, The University of North Texas, The University of Texas San Antonio, Victoria College, and Washington University in Saint Louis.

South Texas College exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information, contact Gina Otvos at (956) 872-3488, gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

South Texas College gears up for its annual Ceramics Conference with two artists from Alpine, TX

South Texas College begins its 11th annual ceramics exhibition and workshop, “More than Coincidence: Continuations in Clay” to the Rio Grande Valley with an opening reception on June 22 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery.

The exhibit will be on view from June 22 to August 11, 2017, at the Library Art Gallery and at the Art Building B Gallery, located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The event includes a full display of ceramic work by distinguished Texas ceramicists Gregory Tegarden and Amanda Calhoun as well as ceramic work from 12 universities and community colleges across the U.S.

“It should be really interesting on several levels once again,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/conference organizer. “This year we are blessed to have a pair of artists making their way in and outside of clay with interesting backgrounds and shared histories. This should be an educational and entertainingly relevant event in terms of process, product, content, and use.”

South Texas College exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

The three-day South Texas Ceramic Showdown will begin with an opening reception on June 22 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and the Art Building B Gallery from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The conference will continue with Ceramic Demonstrations on June 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

One more demonstration will take place on Saturday, June 24 at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramics Lab. Art talks will be held on that day from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the same location. All activities are free and open to the public.

Participating institutions in the collaborative ceramic constructions include: Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mesa Community College, NW Vista from the Alamo District Colleges, Ouachita Baptist University, Southeast Missouri State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, The University of North Texas, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, The University of Texas San Antonio, Washington University, and Wichita State University.

About the artists:

Gregory J. Tegarden is an Assistant Professor of Art at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He received a Master of Fine Arts with a focus in Ceramics from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi and a Bachelor’s of Science in Botany from Sul Ross State University. He is trained in the traditional Thai method of coil building or turning large ceramic vessels. His studio work consists functional ceramics that are influenced by the desert southwest and the austere environment found inside a kiln.

Amanda Calhoun embraces kitsch and her work is greatly influenced by classic films and television shows. Having worked for a handmade ceramic tile studio for fourteen years, she developed a love and a skill set for making tile. In this exhibition, she honors the women in her life with freeform tile portraits adorned with a headdresses of personal imagery.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at (956) 872-3488, or via email at gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery, together with the college’s Visual and Performing Arts Department, brings the Rio Grande Valley its tenth annual ceramics exhibition and workshop, “Constants and Variables: A South Texas Ceramic Showdown.” All activities are free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on view from June 16 to July 25, 2016, at the college’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and at the Art Building B Gallery, located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The event includes a full display of ceramic work by distinguished Texas ceramicists Jim Bob Salazar and Pat Johnson as well as ceramic works by students and professors from 13 regional universities and community colleges.

A three-day ceramics conference will begin with an opening reception on June 16 at the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery and the Art Building B Gallery from 6-8 p.m. The conference will continue with Ceramic Demonstrations on June 17 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., and June 18 at 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramics Lab, Room 115. Art talks will be held on Saturday, June 18 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the same location.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to continue with our annual Ceramic Showdown that began informally in 2007 at South Texas College,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/conference organizer. “This year we are fortunate to have a pair of Texas based artists with Pat Johnson returning with her politically powerful work and paired with extraordinarily talented thrower, Jim Bob Salazar. This should be an informative event in terms of content, top flight form and process, as well as viewers being able to see the connections that artists decide to make in and outside of the studio.”

Jim Bob Salazar received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas in Denton. In 1998, he moved to Alpine, Texas where he taught ceramics, along with sculpture, photography and design, for nearly fifteen years near Big Bend National Park at Sul Ross State University. In 2013, he decided to retire from teaching and pursue pottery full time. Salazar creates highly skilled, functional pottery and is an active exhibitor in Texas, participating in over 25 art festivals a year.

Pat Johnson has been working in clay for over 40 years. About her work, Johnson says, “Creating art helps me clarify what I feel and believe. Be it a social, political statement or a personal one.” Her work has been featured in many solo and group shows in Texas including the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, D. Berman Gallery in Austin and Hooks-Epstein Gallery in Houston as well as during numerous ceramic annual conferences. In addition to her extensive studio practice and exhibit history, Johnson has been commissioned for ceramic tile murals for the College Station Public Library, Monument Hill State Park, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and other murals in Longview, Waco and Austin. She has won awards from the Texas Clay Artist Association and her work is included in the book 500 Tiles: An Inspiring Collection of International Work.

Participating institutions include Baylor University, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Mesa Community College, McLennan Community College, Northwest Vista College, Ouachita Baptist University, Old Dominion University, South Texas College, Southeast Missouri State University, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, University of Central Missouri, University of North Texas, University of Texas Rio Grande, and University of Texas San Antonio.
STC’s Library Art Gallery exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information contact Gina Otvos at (956) 872-3488, or via email at gotvos@southtexascollege.edu or visit https://library.southtexascollege.edu/lag.

While you observe the exhibit which will be on view from June 11-August 7, also take note of the library’s vast collection of Ceramics books and magazines. For more information about the exhibit and about the Library Art Gallery, visit their website: library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery/.

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery partners with the college’s Visual Art Department and the University of Texas-Pan American in order to present the RGV’s eighth annual ceramics exhibition and conference, “Challenging Conventions: A South Texas Ceramic Showdown.” The full exhibition includes collaborative pieces from 12 universities and community colleges. The pieces will be at both the STC Library and UTPA’s Visual Art Gallery.

The exhibit will be on view from June 11-August 7, 2015. A special ceramic art talk by, Tom Belden of Central Arizona College and Gary Greenberg Clarion University of Pennsylvania, will take place on Thursday, June 11 from 5-6 p.m. just before the opening reception which is being held from 6-8 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Library, located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The following day at UTPA there will be a free, two-day conference and workshop taking place on Friday, June 12 and ending Saturday, June 13 at UTPA’s Visual Arts Building Ceramics Lab. All activities are free and open to the public.

“We are back in action for our fifth go around of ceramic collaboration. There are a number of variables that we are putting in place with our own facilities being upgraded here at STC this summer so we are collaborating with UTPA to put on the show and workshop,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop organizer. “People across the state and even the nation are putting things in place and into kilns in order to make the show happen very soon.”

The conference includes clay demonstrations and talks by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramic artists, Tom Belden of Central Arizona College and Gary Greenberg of Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Both ceramicists are M.F.A. graduates of Arizona State University, and they bring with them over 40 years of experience exhibiting nationwide, teaching, and working in the medium. Among Tom Belden’s vast accomplishments, he was instrumental in establishing Central Arizona College’s Gallery, and he has served as gallery director and curator for the past fourteen years at Central Arizona College. Gary Greenberg’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the University of Missouri, Adams State College in Colorado and the Stretch Gallery in North Carolina to name a few. Greenberg serves as director of Disco Inferno, the tri-annual firings of the Clarion University wood-fired, anagama kiln.

“We are continuing with a paired show format; plus the institutional invite will be back along with a pair of visiting artists, Belden and Greenberg.” Leonard said. “It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be educational. It’s going to open some eyes and minds.”

Participating institutions include Texas A&M University-Kingsville, The University of Central Missouri, The University of Texas-San Antonio, Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Brownsville, The University of Texas-Pan American, Kent State University, Mesa Community College, South Texas College, Tarrant County College, Cuyahoga Community College.

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information contact Gina R. Otvos at 956-872-3488 or email gotvos@southtexascollege.edu. For a complete listing of exhibits, visit library.southtexascollege.edu/libraryartgallery.

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery, together with the college’s Visual Arts and Music Department, brings the Rio Grande Valley its annual ceramics exhibition and workshop, “Calculated Efforts: A South Texas Ceramic Showdown.” All activities are free and open to the public.

The event includes a full display of ceramic works by art students and professors from regional universities and community colleges. The exhibit will be on view from June 2 to Aug. 8 at the college’s Pecan Campus Art Building Art Gallery, located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen.

A two-day ceramics workshop will take place on June 13 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., and June 14 at 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building (Bldg. B) Ceramics Lab, Room 113. Art talks will be held on Saturday, June 14 from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. at the same location. An exhibit reception will be held on June 12 in the Visual Arts and Music Gallery and the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery from 6-8 p.m.

“We are back in action for another round of ceramic collaboration. There are a number of variables that we are putting in place,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop organizer. “Actually, people across the state and even nation are putting things in place and into kilns in order to make the show happen in the summer.”

Participants will see clay demonstrations by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramicists Fred Spaulding and Jennifer Quarles.

“We are continuing with a paired show format; the institutional invite will be back along with a pair of visiting artists, Jennifer Quarles from Austin and Fred Spaulding, who at one time taught at UTPA and will be rolling down from Arlington,” Leonard said. “Their work should harmonize well while also providing interesting levels of contrast. In their ceramic work, which isn’t the entirety of all that they produce, both artists use aspects of printmaking, photography, and graphic arts in creating work that both touches and transcends tradition.”

Spaulding earned his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Connecticut. He is currently associate professor of art at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth and has completed further study through residencies at Kohler’s Arts in iron casting and Penland’s Winter Residency in Printmaking. Spaulding continues to work, exploring the possibilities of constructed structures of brick.

Quarles earned her Master of Fine Arts from Texas Women’s University. Since 2002, her work has been featured in both regional and national exhibitions. In addition, Quarles works with the Texas Clay Arts Association (TCAA), a non-profit organization that promotes ceramics in Texas. Her work explores our constant drive to record and share information, as well as our inherent desire to connect to one another.

STC’s Library Art Gallery exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

STC’s Library Art Gallery and the Visual Arts & Music Department present “A South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Clear as Mud.” This is the seventh year we’ve collaborated with VAM on the Ceramic Showdown, and this one is going to be great. We will be featuring ceramic works by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramicists Kirk Mangus and Billy Ritter.

Mangus earned his Master of Fine Arts from Washington State University. He has been the Head of Ceramics at Kent State University since 1985 and has taught at numerous institutions including the Cleveland Institute of Art and the University of Georgia Athens Cortona, Italy Program.

Ritter earned his Master of Fine Arts from Kent State University. He currently works as a Ceramics Instructor/Ceramic Lab Technician at the Art House Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio and as a Ceramics Instructor at the Orange Art Center in Pepper Pike, Ohio.

An exhibit reception will be held on June 6 in the Visual Arts and Music Gallery and the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery from 6 to 8 pm, respectively. A two-day ceramics workshop will be held June 7th from 9 am – 12 pm and 1:30 – 4:30 pm and June 8th at 9 am – 12 pm at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building Ceramics Lab, Room 113. Art talks will take place Saturday, June 8 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. The exhibit will remain on display until August 12, 2013.

The Library Art Gallery is also proud to present “Machistas Y Vanidad” (“Macho and Vanity”), an exhibit featuring artwork by Noel Palmenez. This exhibit addresses a person’s exterior appearance and how we wish ourselves to be perceived. It also dissects what it means to be “macho.”

Noel Palmenez earned an MS from Texas A&M University and an MFA from The University at Texas Pan-American in painting, drawing and sculpture. He currently teaches at UTB Brownsville.

The exhibit opens Thursday, June 6 and will be on view through Friday, August 12, 2013. Artist talks will be held on the opening day at 2:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room. Reception will follow from 6 pm – 8 pm on the library’s 1st floor.

Lectures and receptions are always free and open to the public! Please see the flyer below and be sure to share it with your friends and family.

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery Program, together with the college’s Visual Arts and Music Department, brings the RGV its annual ceramics exhibition and workshop, “A South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Wedged Together.” All activities are free and open to the public.

The event includes a full display of ceramic works by art students and professors from regional universities and community colleges. The exhibit will be on view from June 4 to August 13, 2012 at the college’s Pecan Campus Art Building Art Gallery located at 3201 West Pecan Blvd. in McAllen.

A two-day ceramics workshop takes place June 15 and 16 at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building Ceramics Lab, Room 113. Art talks will take place Saturday, June 16 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the same location. An exhibit reception will be held on June 14 in the Visual Arts and Music Gallery and the Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery from 6 to 8 p.m.

Participants will see clay demonstrations by nationally recognized and distinguished ceramicists Billy Ray Mangham and Pat Johnson. Mangham earned his Master of Fine Arts from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He taught at the Austin Museum of Art and Austin Community College for 10 years and currently runs the Eye of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos, Texas with his wife Beverly. Johnson earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from North Texas State University. She currently runs the Live Oak Art Center in Columbus, Texas and has been involved in civic affairs, ranging from serving as a precinct judge, to working on environmental matters.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to continue with our annual Ceramics Showdown and maintain the presentations from established ceramic artists while also experimenting a bit with the institutional participation in sharing and showing collaborative ceramic art,” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and exhibit/workshop organizer. “This year we are fortunate to have a pair of Texas based artists, Pat Johnson and Billy Ray Mangum whose work, work ethic, and attitudes will certainly be a shot in the arm for our own RGV students. They are longtime friends and are known in ceramic circles for much more than just their ceramic wares.”

“The institutional invite has the possibility for continuing to be something unique and once again has a collaborative format,” added Leonard. “Entitled ‘Wedged Together’, the call for work is in a format of a problem to solve; it will be interesting to see the range of solutions, though at the present I am a bit apprehensive because in clay this much is true – you never know what you are going to get. Come check us out.”

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information contact Dawn Haughey at 956-872-3488 or at libraryart@southtexascollege.edu, or visit Library Art Gallery Website.

Howdy Readers! If you’ve wandered the halls of the Pecan Campus Library this June, you may have noticed our two fantastic new art installations! If you haven’t, come by the second floor and check out these exhibits. They are definitely something different, and it’s free!

One of these exhibits, hosted within the Library Art Gallery, is the Ceramics Showdown, and will only be available for viewing until July 1st:

For more information about these exhibits or the Library Art Gallery contact:

South Texas College’s Art Department, together with the college’s Library Art Gallery Program, presents “A South Texas Ceramic Showdown: Up and Down and All Around.” Featuring the RGV’s fourth annual ceramics exhibition and conference, the event includes a full display of ceramics works by art students and professors from 11 regional universities and community colleges. Participating institutions include South Texas College, The University of Texas-Pan American, The University of Texas at Brownsville/Texas Southmost College, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Tarrant County College, Texas A&M Kingsville, Galveston College, Central Arizona College, Kent State University and Northwest Vista College.

The exhibit will be on view from July 8 to September 4, 2010. A reception will be held on Saturday, July 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. at STC’s Pecan Campus Library Art Gallery, Bldg F. located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. The free, two-day conference and workshop begins Friday, July 16 and ends Saturday, July 17 at STC’s Pecan Campus Art Building Ceramics Lab. Art talks will also take place Saturday, July 17 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the college’s Pecan Campus Library Rainbow Room. All activities are free and open to the public.

Max Butler, “Rooster Platter,” Eathenware.

The conference includes clay demonstrations and talks by Carl Block of Flatland Pottery and Max Butler of Butler Pottery. Both ceramicists are graduates of The University of North Texas, currently teach at Texas ISD schools, own clay studios, and are active musicians. Among Block’s vast accomplishments, his work is featured in permanent art collections including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., Rice University, The University of Houston, The Chinati Foundation, and the personal collection of former president George H. Bush, to name a few. Butler studied in France and was apprentice to Jean Louis Gaudin. In 2004, he received the prestigious Fulbright Memorial Grant to study in Japan.

“We are pleased to have Block and Butler as our featured clay artists for ‘A South Texas Ceramic Showdown,’” said Chris Leonard, STC ceramics instructor and conference organizer. “As friends, Block and Butler share a history of creating utilitarian forms that are delightful. They don’t decorate, they do.

“Both of these UNT alums know their way around the wheel, but their work is anything but faceless,” Leonard added. “Both gentlemen, who teach school by day, make hard work look effortless, and yes, even fun. They are entertainers with muscle and thought provoking products. Their pieces tell stories and I’m sure they will tell a few stories, too.”

South Texas College’s Library Art Gallery Program exhibits regional, national and international artwork, explores new visions and theories of creativity, and introduces innovative artistic expressions to the South Texas region.

For more information contact Sofia K. Vestweber at 956-872-3488 or at libraryart@southtexascollege.edu, or visit the Library Art Gallery Website.